Wire-reel.



No. 654,497. 4 Patented luly 24, |900. H. A.*THOMAS.

WIRE REEL.

(Application filed Apr. 26, 1900.) (No Model.)

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srncrnrcn'rron forming prttf Letters Patent Nb. 654,497, dated July 24, 190e. Application filed April 26, 1900. Serial No. 14,437. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY A. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the county of Iiaclede, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WireReels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap- In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation.

of myimproved wire-reel, one of the supporting-standards shown swung down in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation, and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view, of one of the spool'clamping heads looking at the inner side thereof.

Like characters of reference denote like parts throughout the drawings.

1 denotes the base of the machine, 2 and 3 the reel-supporting standards, the standard 2 having a hinged connection with the base 1 and is provided with a journal-bearing 4. The standard 3 is rigid with the base and is provided with an orifice in line with the journal-bearing 4 of the standard 2 and is also provided with a two-part journal-box 5, which receives the reduced portion of the reel-shaft 6,' the opposite end of which is reduced and journaled in bearing 4 of the standard 2. The end of the reel-shaft adjacent to the bearing 5 is provided with a crankhandle 7.

6 denotes a ratchetwheel tixed on the shaft 6 between the crank-handle 7 and the bearing 5, and 5/ denotes a pivoted pawl mounted on the bearing 5 and adapted to be dropped into engagement with the ratchebwheel G',

thereby locking said wheel and shaft against rotation to hold the wire stretched while a staple is being driven or for any otherpurpose.

8 denotes a threaded tie-rod connecting the upper ends of the standards 2 and 3 and is provided on its outer end, adjacent to the standard 43, with a head, and on the other side of the said standard is a clampingnut 8", which when screwed up on the rod 8 will clamp the standard 3 between said nut and the said head; The opposite end of the tierod 8 is also provided with clamping-nuts 82 and S3, which when screwed up clamp the standard 2, thus rigidly bracing the same.

9 denotes two circular clamping plates or heads splined to the reel-shaft` and having formed upon their inner faces two dialnet# ricallyeopposite lugs or offsets 9 for a purpose hereinafter to appear.

10 denotes a washer located upon the shaft 6 between the outer face of one of the clamping-heads 9 and the hinged standard 2, so that by adjusting the nuts 82 and 83 on the tie-rod 8 the standard 2 will be brought to bear more or less tightly against the washer 10, causing a frictional contact between the washer 10 and the clamping-head 9., thereby forming a brake to the reelshaft and giving lnore or less tension to the wire when the same is being unreeled.

l2 denotes the usual form of wire-spool used for winding heavy wire upon, consisting of the crossed pieces 12 and 122, forming the two ends of the spool and being spaced apart and connected together by four bars 123, which are triangularin cross-section, so that they may t snugly in the corners formed by the crossed end pieces l2' and 122and having two of their faces lying fiat againstthe parallel sides of the crossed end pieces. 'When the spool is slipped upon the shaft 6, the out side pieces l22 of the spool are engaged on both sides by the lugs 9 of the clampingheads 9 and held against rotation on said shaft by reason of the heads 9 being splined thereon. To allow the heads 9 and the spool 12 to be slipped on and off the shaft 6, the nut 83 must be first unscrewed from the tierod 8, which will permit the standard 2 to be swung clear of the shaft 6, and the parts may then be removed or replaced, as the case ICO may be. The shaft Gis provided midway its length with a transverse orifice 6 to receive and hold the end of the Wire to be stretched.

13 denotes bars bolted to the upper ends ot' the standards 2 and 3 and curving downwardly to the front and rear thereof and formed on their ends with the upturned hooks 13 to receive the upper ends of guy-ropes or stays fastened in the ground. The base is also provided with Vertical holes through which stakes may be driven to hold the reelframe down firmly.

14 denotes a box formedby the cross-pieces of the base and a bottom connecting the said' crosspieces for the reception ot' staples, tools, &c. Y

From1 the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and operation of my device will be read.- ily` understood and a` further description is not deemed necessary.

Various changes in the form, proportion, andi the-minor details of. construction may be resorted towithout departing from the prinoiple or sacrificing any of the advantagesof this invention.

Havingthus described my inventiomwhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a wire reel and stretcher, the combination of the base, the rigid and the hinged supporting-standards, a reel-shaft journaled in said supporting-standards, clamping-heads spline-d upon said. shaft for clamping between them a Wire spool or reel, a friction-Washer on said shaft between one of the clampingheads and the hinged standard, a threaded tierod connecting the upper ends of the standards, adjusting-nuts for drawing the hinged standard toward the fixed standard causing a frictional contact between clamping-heads and said Washer, thereby regulating the speed of the reel-shaft and giving tension to the Wire, a ratchet-Wheel mounted on' said shaft and. a locking-pawl adapted to engage said ratchet-vvheel to lock said; shaftia-gainst rota tion, substantially asset for-th..

In' testimony whereof I havehereuantoset my handY in presence of two subscribing wit;- nesses.

HENRY THOMAS.

VVitnesses-t4 JACOB` DEBERY, THOMAS W. WArrE. 

